Hat processing machine



1940- E. SPICKELMIER ETAL 2,226,360

HAT PROCESSING MACHINE Filed March 29. 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet l [771/6712 ors Ernesi' Spicke firmer;

Carl M Bruengger a f'or'resif L. H/ic/rcock,

'49 jzzorw s' Dec. 24, 1940. E. SPICKELMIER EI'AL HAT PROCESSING MACHINE Filed March 29, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 gear Jim/e71 207's [W52 '5 /cke/m/e p M Bruen lllllll lllllllll I hcock,

1940- E. SPICKELMIER EIAL I 3 HAT. PROCESSING MACHINE Filed March 29, 1939 5 Shets-Sheet 3 46 I A \\\\\Y fin/e71 2075 [Thai Sp/cke/m/er; Carl M Braqger 4" Forre'si L. f// Zc/zcock,

Dec. 24, 1940. E. SPICKELMIER arm.

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- E. SPICKELMIER Em 2 226,360

HAT PROCESSING MACHINE Filed March 29, 1939 5.Sheets-Sheet 5 POI/E E LINE Patented Dec. 24, 1940 m'r raocassmo mourns I Ernest Spickelmier, Carl W. Brnenger, and Forrest L. Hitchcock. Indianapolis, Ind., assignors to Spickelmier Fuel and Supply Company, Indianapolis, Ind., a copartnership composed of Ernest spickelmiencarl V. Spickelmier, and

Fred J. Spickelmier Application March 29, 1939. Serial No. 264,870 1 Claims. (CI. 91-42) This invention relates to a machine for subjecting articles, such as hats or the like, to treatment with liquids containing volatile constituents, one

particular application of the invention being the waterproofing of felt hats with a liquid containing a vehicle or carrier such as carbon tetrachloride.

which carries the waterproofing ingredients.

An important object of the invention is to provide a unitary,'compact machine in which the articles being treated may be immersed and then subjected to a drying step'wherein the waterproofing vehicle or the like and surplus liquid may be extracted from the hats and recovered and made-available for use, all without escape of fumes and vapors from the machine, and returning automatically to the immersion tank all of the recovered liquids.

' A still further important object of the invention is to. provide a structure fully protected with safeguards so arranged so that the machine may not be operated under conditions dangerous to the operator.

A still further important object of the invention is to provide a structure which becomes automatically operable upon closure thereof and is restored to an inoperative position upon open ing whereby a great saving of time is effected.

These and many other objects and advantages of the invention, such as the unique and novel association of the various elements as set forth in the appended claims, will become apparent to those versed in the art in the following description of one particular form of the invention as illustrated more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 4, a detail onenlargedscale in vertical section of a startand stop switch;

, Fig. 5, a transverse section on the line 6-5 in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6, a detail in section of a cover latch mechanism; I Fig. 7, a rear elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8, a section on the line 8-6 in Fig. "I; I Fig. 9, a front elevation in partial section of the timing mechanism;

Fig. 10, an end elevation; I 1 Fig. 11, a transverse section on the line lI-il in Fig. 9;

Fig. 12,a detail in front elevation on enlarged scale of the timer switching mechanism;

Fig. 13, a detail in partial section on enlarged scale of the cover-timer connection; and

Fig. 14, a wiring diagram of the controls em ployed.

Like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

A general housing [5 is mounted upon suitable legs l6, herein shown as four in number, each leg preferably carrying a caster i'l where the machine is not intended to be anchored in a fixed position. The housing I5 in horizontal transverse section is approximately elliptical in shape and carries 'therewithin tanks I8 and I9 respectively, toward the ends of the hcusing'li. Each tank l8 and i9 is cylindrical in nature and opens at its top end through the cover plate 20 of the housing 15.

Suspended under the floor 2| of the housing l5 under each of the tanks l8 and I9 are electric motors 22 and 23 respectively, each being mounted vertically to havea shaft 24 extending from the motor vertically up through the floor 2| and through the bottom of the floor of the tanks. As incl cated in Fig. 1, in reference to the tank l8,

the shaft 24 extends through a suitable bearing 25 and into driving engagement with the floor 26 of a cylindrical basket 21 carried freely within the tank l8. Preferably both the floor of the tank l8 and the floor of the basket 21 are convexly formed. The basket 21 is insertable into the tank I8 by entering the basket through the top opening of the tank and carryingit downwardly to have the floor 26 rest upon the'bearing 25 and removably engage with the driving end of the projecting shaft 24.

The same structure tank llwherein the'basket 28 is likewise carried and driven by its motor 23;

Covers 29 and 30 are provided respectively for substantially gas sealing the tanks l8 and I9. Each 'cover is provided with a downwardly projecting portion 3| shaped to enter within the upper open end of the basket as a means for steadying the basket during starting and stopping operations of the driving motors in order to prevent the baskets from rubbing against the walls of the tanks. The cover 29 is mounted upon an arm 32, the legs 33 and 34 of which are individually hinged through ears 35 and 36 respectively, to the housing l5. By lifting the arm 32, the cover 29 is likewise lifted and may befswung back out of the'way, as indicated in Fig. 3, when access is desiredto the tank and basket. The leg 34 extends rearwardly beyond the car 36 so that it will strike the vertical wall of the tank l5 and thus limit the rearwardswing of the arm.

specific rorm herein shown ensuin a cross bar 36 carried between bifurcated members ofthe arm 32. A spring 36 normally urges the latch 31 into engagement with and over the bar 36, the latch being hinged on a pin 46 extending between cars 4| and 42" from a mounting bracket 43 which is secured to the housing top 26. The latch 31 is provided with an electric solenoid holding mechanism for the purpose of maintaining the latch I in the engaged position when the machine is in operation or rather when that particular basket is being rotated under the cover being held closed by the latch. Of course, the holding mechanism may assume any number of forms, the one particular form herein shown consisting of a solenoid 44 carried on the ear 4| with a shiftable armature 46 extending slidably across through the other ear 42 and carrying a compression spring 46 normally holding the armature 46 to one end of the solenoid. The rod 41, which connects with the armature 45 and about which the spring 46 is carried, Figs. 7 and 8, carries a pin 46 by means of a cross bar 46 slidably in the ear 42 in a path immediately behind the latch 31 when in its engaging position, Thus when the solenoid 44 is energized, the armature 46 will be pulled to the left, Figs. 7 and 8, to pull the pin 46 behind the latch 31 and thus prevent movement of the latch away from engagement with the bar 36 of the arm 32. De-energizing of the solenoid 44 will permit the spring 46 to return the pin 46 to an outer position out of the path of the latch 31 so that the latch is then tree to be swung in opposition to the spring 36.

The same structure applies to the cover 36 which is mounted on its carrying arm 66 hinged through the ears 5| and to the housing I! and having its hold-down latch 63, this latch 63 having a solenoid operated holding mechanism as indicated in Figs. 6-8 above described.

Under each of the cover carrying arms 32 and 56 adjacent the holding latches 31 and 63 is an end of a rod 54 to be in the path of the-arm, herein shown, Fig. 6, as being in the path of the cross bar 36. This rod 54 in each instance extends downwardly to operate some type of switch interposed "Hi the circuit controlling the operation of the respective motors 22 and 23. While this switch in each instance may take a number of forms, it is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in Figs.

4 and 5 in one particular form wherein the rod 64 interconnects through aresilient member, such as the spring 55 carried in a sleeve 66 with a push button 51 bearing against the switch arm 66 inside of a housing 66 normally held by a spring 66 in an open circuit position removed from a contact member 6| which carries an external terminal 62, the switch arm 66 being interconnected with an external terminal 63. As long as either cover is open, the control rod 64 is held in an upper position and the switch is in open condition. In other words when the cover is open, current to the motor which drives the basket in that open tank is cut off. Each motor 22 and 23 is provided with a brake mechanism 64 and 66 respectively, auto- 7 matically operable through solenoids immediately prior to the opening of the respective covers as will more fully be described later.

Between the two tanks I 6 and I6 and within the housing I5 is mounted a central immersion 76 tank 66 opening through'the top 26. For drainage purposes, a pipe 61 leads from the flooigof this immersion tank 66 downwardly and laterally out through the side of the housing I! to a stopcock Immediately below the tank 66 is a sump or 6 collecting tank 66, herein shown as being suspended from the floor 2| of the housing ii, the

- floor 2| forming a top closure for the tank. A

vent pipe 16 is provided to have its lower endopen through the floor 2| into the tank 66 and extend l0 upwardly therefrom within the housing l6 and turn by its upper end outwardly through the rear side of the housing" to have an external discharge port 1|.

Drain pipes 12 and 13 lead respectively from the 16 floors of the tanks 6 and I6 and discharge into the collecting tank 66. It isto be noted that the inlets to these drain pipes 12 and 13, Fig. 2, are located to be roughly tangentialto the baskets'21 and 26 and to be in those positions wherein fluid 0 is urged by reason of travel of the baskets as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 2. A pump 14 of any suitable design, herein shown as being of a centrifugal type, is carried under the floor 2| to be driven by an electric motor 16 and to take fluid 26 from the tank 66 through the intake pipe 16 and discharge it through the pipe 11 into the immersion tank 66, the outlet of the pipe 11 being carried up under a baiiie- 16, the baiiie 16 being open at its lower end and closed over in respect to the 30 wall of the tank 66, whereby the opening from thebaifle 16 is normally submerged in the fluid carried in the tank 66 and any fumes being liberated do not escape from the top of the tank 66 but are entrapped and returned to the fluid, and 66 furthermore, little agitation of the fluid in the tank 66 is effected by this means of discharge behind the baiiie. i

For the sake of appearance as well as. adding a safety factor, a suitable grille 16 is employed as lo a skirt below the housing l6 and between the legs |6 across the front side of the machine. All of the motor drives are located under the floor 2| and behind this protecting grille.

0n the rear side of the housing I6 is fixed a 45 main control switch box 66. From this switch box leads conduits 6| and 62 respectively, to the timer housing boxes 66 and 64. A third conduit 65 leads downwardly to a relay and distribution box as from which a conduit :1 carries wiring to the various motors and controls. A separate timing mechanism is carried in each of the boxes 66 and 64 and are identical in all respects. Therefore a description of one timing mechanism will be sufficient and this description is made in reference to the timer carried in the box 64.

Referring to Figs. 9-13, a synchronous motor 66 is mounted upon a base 66 secured inside of the housing 64 to drive through any suitable gear reduction and toothed wheel on, this wheel so being fixed to the motor driving shaft. Also carried on the motor driving shaft is a pulley 6| loosely mounted thereon. In the form herein shown, a spring 62 has one end fixed to the pulley 6| to be wrapped therearound from the under-side and carried upwardly from the righthand side to pass outwardly through the box 84 and connect with a piston 63 freely fitted in a cylinder 64, Fig. 13, the piston being free to be shifted vertically within the cylinder 64 and being prevented from being withdrawn from the upper end by any suitable stop, such as by crimping over the wall of the cylinder. The piston 63 is supported by means of any suitable linkage with the rearwardly extending foot 34 7f the cover arm 7 92 this linkage in the present form being shown 'as a ball type chain 99.

employed for resilient belting, the spring 92 requiring more force to extend it than is required to extend the spring 99, that is, the spring 99 is lighter than is the spring 92.

Fixed to the shiftable pulley 9| is an arm 91 to be rockable therewith. This arm 91 extends radially along the rear face of the wheel 99 and rockably carries a pawl 99 near its outer end to have the pawl in the path 01 the peripheral teeth on the wheel 99. This pawl has an under tooth 99 for wheel tooth engagement and a spring I99 normally rocksthe pawl 99 to carry this tooth 99 into the path of the teeth. I

Mounted in any suitable position, herein shown as being above and forwardof the wheel 99, is a mercury switch I9I carried between clips I92 on a rocker I93. The rocker is free to rock about its pivot pin I99 within the limits of the slot I95 as determined by the pin I99 entering that slot, the slot I99 being formed in a front supporting plate I91.

The rocker I99 is in the path of a roller I99 carried on the arm 91 at the side of the pawl 99. The arrangement is such that when the arm 91 brings the roller I99 around clockwise, Figs. 9 and 12, the rocker I99 is lifted from the position shown in Fig; 9 to the extreme position shown in Fig. 12 to throw themercury switch I9I from a closed circuit position to an open circuit position. The counter-clockwise travel of the arm 91-is limited by a pin I99 extending rearwardly from the front support plate I91. This pin I99 further serves to lift the pawl 99 to remove its tooth 99 from engagement with the teeth of the wheel 99. This shifting of the pawl 99 is accomplished by reason of an upper arm of the pawl 98 striking the pin I99 and traveling thereover as the arm 91 .is swung toward the pin, as illustrated particularly, in Fig. 12. This lifting movement is accomplished by reason of the radial location of the pin I99 from the center of rotation of the wheel 99 and by the relatively sloping under-face of the pawl arm.

The plate I91 carries an indicating dial II9 on its frontface over which a pointer III may be manually swung. This pointer III is rockably mounted on the shaft of the motor 99 to be free to turn thereon. A hub I I2 extends from the pointer III inwardly through the plate I91 and carries in fixed relation thereto an arm II9 so that as the pointerl I I is rotated the arm I I9 behind the plate I91 will likewise berotated. The outer end of the arm H9 is in the path of the shaft II9 on which the pawl 99 of the roller I99 are mounted.

Operation The operation of the machine and process is as follows: A quantity of fluid employedin the treating process is placed in the immersing tank at a time in the fluid in thetank 99 and stacked one over the other in either basket 21 or 29,

basket 21 being selected for the present example of operation. When the desired number of articles are placed in the basket 21, the cover 29 is lowered to bring the arm 92 down into latching engagement with the latch 91. This closing of the cover performs a multiple number of operations. In the first place, the pointer III on each of the timers is turned around to that indication for the desired time of running of the basket 21. This shifting of the pointer III sets the arm II9 accordingly. The spring 92 is in the slack position while the cover 29 is open and the spring 99 will have pulled the arm 91 around clockwise tclrsmaintain the shaft II9 against the limit arm When the cover 29 is closed, it pushes down- I retaining the latch 91 in the closed position and preventing opening of the cover 29.

Also a circuit is closed from the wire II9, through the wires I29 and I29 to a pilot lamp I21 to indicate running of the basket 21.- Another circuit is closed from the wire .1 through the synchronous motor 99 and the wire I29 setting that motor into operation to drive the-toothed wheel 99 in a counter-clockwise direction, Figs. 9-12 (clockwise in Fig. 14) A still further circuit is closedthrough the brake solenoid I29, through the wires I29 and I99 which are parallelly connected with the motor 22. This brake solenoid I29 operates in the usual and well known manner to hold the brake 99 of the motor 22 in a released condition. One more circuit is closed between the switch I I9 and the pump motor 15 through the wire I22, wire I9I, wire I92,'front contact I99 of the relay I99, and wire I95 connected to the wire- H9 and thusthrough the switch MI and cover switch members 59 and 9|.

The basket 21 is brought up to speed by the motor 32 to rotate to throw out centrifugally excess fluid from the articles contained in the basket. As this fluid is thrown out, it drains to the floor of the tank I9 and flows by gravity down through the drain pipe 12 into the sump 99 from which it is pumped by the pump 19 back into the immersion tank 99. Since the solvent or vehicle employed in this fluid in the present instance is carbon tetrachloride, fumes or vapors escaping the wall of the tank I9 where they condense and flow downwardly and out as liquid. The vent pipe 19 equalizes any slight difference in pressure there may be but since the material vaporizes and condenses within the same system, there is no ditferential in pressure as between the atmosphere and the tanks so that as a matter of fact no vapors travel upwardly through the vent pipe 19.

Going back to the timing mechanism, travel of-the toothed wheel 99' is counter-clockwise as viewed in Figs. 9-12. Since the spring 92 is in a stretched condition, by reason of its attachment to the foot 99 of the cover arm 32, the arm 91 as fixed to the pulley 9| will tend to be pulled around ina counter-clockwise direction, but the rate of travel is limited by the rate of travel of the wheel 90 as driven by its motor 88, the reduction gearing 4 .travel until the pawl 98 is lifted from engagement with the wheel so by riding over the pin I99. By

this time, the rocker I93 has been shifted to throw .the switch IIII to an/open circuit position. This action interrupts the circuit to shut of! flow of current to the motor 22, brake solenoid I28, and latch. solenoid 44, thus allowing the brake to be automatically applied to the motor 22 to rapidlyreduce the speed of and stop the motor 22 and bring the basket 21 to a standstill and also to permit shifting of the latch 31 so that the cover 29 may then be opened. The pilot lamp I21 is extinguished since its circuit is also interrupted by the switch IIII. The synchronous motor 88 continues to run independently ofthe switch IIiI until the cover 29 is lifted to permit separation of the contact members 58 and 6 I The pump motor is thrown out of the circuit by the switch IIlI' so that the pump stops upon stoppage of the basket motor 22; Lifting of the cover 29 permits the lower spring 96 of the timer to reset the arm 91 clockwise against the arm II3 so that the timing mechanism is then ready for a subsequent operation.

After the basket 21 has been loaded and set into operation as above described, the basket 28 in the tank I9 is immediately loaded in the same manner. The period of running of either basket isv ordinarily made to be such that the operator has timeto load one basket and close its cover while the other basket is running so that he is following the steps of loading first one basket, and

then unloading the second basket and re-loading it, and so on. I

Since the operation and controls are substantially identical for both baskets, the above description in reference to basket 21 and its various motors, solenoids, etc., the same description will apply in reference to the same elements in connection with the basket 28. The only difference in operation comes in the control of the pump motor wherein the relay I34 is energized to change the circuit from the wire I32 to the back contact I38, through the wire I31, to the switch Na, and so on back to the main control switch II5. It is to be noted that in this instance, when the cover 30 is closed, switch members 58a and ila are closed through its control rod 54 to complete a circuit from the switch II5 to the wires I38, I39, switch IIlIa, wires I40, I4I, I42, motor 23, and wire I43 for the basket motor 23; the latch solenoid through the wires I 44 and I45 and brake solenoid through the wires I46 and'I41, both connected respectively to the wires I42 and I43,

ing from the spirit of the invention and the invention is, therefore, not intended to be limited .tank to said sump; the sump to said supply tank; and a pump driving limitations as claims. I

a liquid and extracting surplus liquid therefrom,

a tank; a basket rotatably mounted in the tank; a motor for driving the basket; a cover for -the tank, latch means retaining the cover in closed position; electro-magnetic, latch-locking means; timing means for controlling duration of operation of said driving motor; electric circuits from a power source containing said driving motor, latchlocking means, and timing means, and a switch normally returningto an open position controlling all of said circuits and being closed by closure of said cover to close all ofsaid circuits.

2. In a machine for impregnating articles with a liquid and extracting surplus liquid therefrom, a tank; a basket rotatably mounted in the tank; a motor for driving the basket; a cover for the tank, latch means retaining the cover in closed position; electro-magnetic, latch locking means; timing means for controlling duration of operation of said driving motor; electric circuits from a power source containing said driving motor, latch-locking means, and timing means, and a switch normally returning to an open position controlling all of said circuits and being closed by closure of said cover to close all of said circuits, a liquid supply tank; a sump; a discharge pipe from said basket 8; pump returning liquid from motor in a circuit also controlled by said switch to operate upon closure thereof.

3. In a machine for impregnating articles with a liquid and extracting surplus liquid therefrom, a tank; a basket rotatably mounted in the tank; a motor for driving the basket; a cover for the tank, latch means retaining the cover in closed position; electro-magnetic, latch-locking means; timing means for controlling duration of operation of said driving motor; electric circuits from a power source containing said driving motor, latch-locking means, and timing means, and a switch normally returning to an open position controlling all of said circuits and being closed by closure of said cover to close all of said circuits, a liquid'supply tank; a sump; a discharge pipe from said basket tank to said sump; a pump returning liquid from the sump to' said supply tank; and a pump driving motor in a circuit also controlled by said switch to operate upon closure thereof; said discharge pipe leaving the floor of said basket tank substantially tangentially thereof in the di-' rection of rotation of said basket.

4. In a machine for impregnating articles with a liquid and extracting surplus liquid therefrom, a tank; a basket rotatably mounted in the tank; a motor for driving the basket; a cover for the tank, latch means retaining the cover in closed position; electro-magnetic, latch-locking means; timing means for controlling duration of operation of said driving motor; electric circuits from a power source containing said driving motor, latchlocking means, and timing means, and a switch normally returning to an open position controlling all of said circuits andbeing closed by closure of said cover to close all of said circuits; said timing means having a mechanical connection with said cover; reset means operable upon opening of the cover; said mechanical connection cooperating with said timing means and overcoming said reset means; and a switch in said driving motor and latch-locking means circuits opened following a predetermined operation of said timing means.

5. In a device for centrifuging volatile liquids, some of the vapors of which are heavier than air, a tank, a basket rotatably carried in the tank in proximity to the tank wall, a cover sealing the tank, means forrotating the basket, and a discharge conduit leading substantially tangentially from the tank floor in the direction of rotation of the basket, whereby vapors may be thrown to said wall by the basket to condense and currents induced by rotation of the basket will tend to induce flow of the heavier uncondensed vapors out through said conduit.

6. In a device for centrifuging volatile liquids, some of the vapors of which are heavier than air, a tank, a basket rotatably carried in the tank in proximity to the tank wall, a cover sealing the tank, means for rotating the basket, and a discharge conduit leading substantially tangentially from the tank floor in the direction of rotation of the basket, whereby vapors may be thrown to said wall by the basket to condense and currents induced by rotation of the basket will tend to induce flow of the heavier uncondensed vapors out through said conduit, means supporting said basket at the bottom of said tank, and said cover having a pilot entering the top end of the basket.

7. In an extracting system containing at least two centrifuges each having a rotatable basket, a motor for driving the basket, and a cover shiftable to open and closed positions over the basket, a sump receiving discharge from all of the centrifuges, a liquid tank, a pump for taking liquid from the sump and placing it in the tank, and an electric control system preventing operation of any centrifuge when its cover is open and causing operation of the pump only when a centrifuge is operating, said control system comprising a switch for each centrifuge normally open and closed by bringing the centrifuge cover to a closed position, a circuit from each cover switch to its respective centrifuge basket driving motor, timing means for each centrifuge resettable by travel of said cover, a timing switch for each timing means included in each respective motor-cover switch circuit, a motor for driving said pump, said pump motor being normally in one of said driving motor-cover switch circuits, and a relay in the other driving motor-cover switch circuit for transferring the pump motor to that other circuit upon energization thereof.

ERNEST SPICKELMIER.

CARL W. BRUENGER. FORREST L. HITCHCOCK. 

